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By AUSTIN CONSIDINE

Published: July 17, 2005

HONG KONG

The origin of the city's annual Seven Sisters Festival is said to date back to an ancient legend about the youngest of the Heavenly Emperor's seven daughters, who, afraid of perpetual spinsterhood as a lonely weaver, is married by her father to a cow herder across the galaxy. When the young bride is found to be neglecting her loom, the emperor forces her to return home, allowing her to visit her husband only once a year, the seventh day of the seventh moon on the Chinese calendar -- Aug. 11 on this year's Western calendar.

The event is celebrated throughout the city but revolves around Lovers' Rock, in the Wanchai neighborhood of Hong Kong Island. Hundreds gather there as lavishly dressed women engage in needlework contests and make offerings to the sky with dance, incense and gifts of fruit and flowers.

As of early July, air fare for round-trip, midweek departures in mid-August started at around $1,000 from the New York area.

VILLENEUVE, SWITZERLAND

The Red Bull Vertigo is a high-flying acrobatic competition between around 100 paraglider and hang glider pilots from around the world, each competitor trying to outdo the other at heights of over 2,600 feet above Lake Geneva. This year, it is held Aug. 18 to 21, and spectators can expect to see stunts performed to a soundtrack of live music against the Alpine backdrop of Switzerland. Admission is free. Information: (41-21) 965-6569 or see www.redbull-vertigo.com.

In early July, round-trip air fare to Geneva, about 65 miles southwest of Villeneuve, in time for the event started at $915 from the New York area.

NEWPORT, R.I.

This city's jazz festival has been an annual touchstone in the history of jazz since 1954. Like Woodstock, its name resonates with myth, and is synonymous with the sounds of legends who have graced its stage -- including Miles Davis, Billie Holiday and Muddy Waters.

This year's festival, Aug. 11 to 14, will feature acts like Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea and Eartha Kitt (above). All-day passes for Aug. 13 or 14 are $65 in advance, $70 at the gate. For tickets, visit www.festivalproductions.net or call (866) 468-7619.

As of early July, round-trip air fare to Providence, R.I., about 30 miles northwest of Newport, in time for the festival started at $262 from the New York area. AUSTIN CONSIDINE

Photos (Photo by Denis Balibouse); (Photo by Hiroyuki Ito for The New York Times)

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